history

__Kilmarnock
Concert Brass was formed, as Kilmarnock Youth Band, by conductor Andrew
Keachie in April 1970. By 1974 the band had performed numerous concerts
and were starting to make an impact on the contesting scene,
culminating with being named Scottish 4th Section Champions that year.
The following year, again, saw the band move from strength to strength
after winning the 3rd Section in the Scottish Championships and going on
to be placed 2nd
in the National Championships of Great Britain.Over
the next few years the band competed in and won many more localised
competitions before being crowned Scottish Band of the Year 1977-78 and
also BBC Radio “Finale” winners. More success at competitions finally
got the band named Champion Band of Scotland, the highest possible award
in the Scottish brass band world, in 1979. This led to the bands first
performance on BBC Television, when they took part in the BBC2 series
“The Best of Brass”. Also not to forget the experience of playing in the
Royal Albert Hall, London, for the National Brass Band Championships
Final.By
the early 1980’s the band were celebrating their 10th anniversary, and
whilst they were still competing and winning competitions all over
Scotland - they were performing concerts with more well known performers
including the James Shepherd Versatile Brass, Brighouse and Rastrick
Band and the National Youth Brass band of Switzerland as well as
performing their own concerts with local school choirs. Again the band
took part in the BBC’s “Finale” again, this time though the series was
broadcast on BBC TV, and although the band did not win this time they
did make it to the finals. Another high point for the band was winning
the Scotstar award as Scottish Band of the Year in 1983, and were the
first brass band to receive this award. 1984 saw the band reach the
final of
BBC TV’s “Finale” for the second time!Fast
forward to 1990 and the band were celebrating their 20th year, and to
mark the occasion the band performed a special concert where the guests
were the Danish Tuba Quartet who were in Scotland at the time giving
seminars and concerts. 1992 saw the band take part in the BBC Songs of
Praise for Kilmarnock 400, to mark the 400th anniversary of the granting
of burgh status to Kilmarnock. 1993 brought a very successful tour of
Denmark and a joint concert in Kilmarnock with the Academy of Music of
Seraing/Spa Concert Band from Belgium.In
1995 the band celebrated it’s 25th Anniversary with special events and
concerts, including a return to the venue of its first ever concert -
Onthank Church. Kilmarnock Concert Brass were also very privileged to
have the composer Peter Graham compose the piece “Fanfare and Prelude on
Kilmarnock” in dedication.1996
got of to an exciting start with the band winning the Scottish
Championships 3rd Section and being runners-up in the National
Championships finals in Cardiff. 1997 again the band won the 2nd Section
and saw promotion to the 1st Section, although the following year the
band were a disappointing 7th and returned to the 2nd Section in 1999.2000
and onward brought good results after being placed 3rd in the 2nd
Section two years running. In 2001 the band were honoured to have a
special concert to celebrate the music of Goff Richards, with KCB
playing no less than 12 pieces written or arranged by Goff, the guest
that evening was of course the man himself who talked about his music
and played some of his jazz trio arrangements.2004
brought another highlight in the bands history, again they were placed
2nd in the Scottish Championships 2nd Section saw them invited to the
National Brass Band Championships in Harrogate. For this competition the
band were conducted by renown composer/arranger Ray Farr, ultimately
the band were not successful this year but it was a rare experience to
take part in such an event for some of the younger players in the band.From
this time on the band began to compete less due to declining numbers in
band membership, although they managed to keep up their annual
commitments such as summer and Christmas concerts. Eventually in 2009
after many disappointing results and band membership being at an all
time low a decision had to be made whether to disband or to change
Musical Director.In
August 2009 Craig Anderson was appointed the new Musical Director for
Kilmarnock Concert Brass, bringing with him several of his pupils from
Cumnock Academy. Craig has a very successful history of brass band
conducting as well as being an accomplished performer in his own right,
and already as 2010’s Scottish Championships has shown he has started
the band back on the road to success.